Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-31
A CODE FOR DANCERS.
The Craze for Bric-asBrac Driving
Dancing from Parl0rs.
THE WALTZ AGAIN IN FAsHf0S-AxD THE GERMAN
STILL HOLD ITS owN-TBE MALE PARTNER IN DE-
MAND-ErIQUErTE OF THE BAIL-RooN-THR cHAPI-
ROME AT A DANCE.

THE WALTZ AGAIN IN FAsHfON-AND THE GERMAN
STILL HOLD ITS owN-TBE MALE PARTNER IN DE-
MAND-ETTQUETTE OF THE BALL-RooN-THH CHAPE-
ROME AT A DANCE.
From the New York Mail and Express
1t Is always good sign for the political econo-
mist when there are many weddings and balls.
IL tells OF prosperity present and TO Gomez or peace
which Is this worlds best possession. In the
luxurious homes Of America there Is however, but
little provision made for that tremendous ne
cessity OF youth, dancing; so, instead OF, like the
Chinese, hiring our dancing done out for us" we
hire our dancing rooms and dance out OF our own
houses. The love OF bric-a-brac, the fashion OF
filling our houses with beautiful and costly things,
has made the giving OF balls in ones own house
almost an impossibility. Only five or six opule Mt
hostesSes In New York own ballroom. so that
Delmonico's has become a temple OF Terpsichore,
and divides with the r1ase of GaStronomy. IL there
Is such lady, the honors of the gay winter.
THE WALTZ IN FAVOR.
Now, as to q fashion in dancing, the waltz has
resumed It's pre-eminence. Alady naturally glides
into waltz 1t should be smooth, peaceful and
quiet. In England the valse a deur temps is very
fashionable. Our dancers vary the evening with
galop and polka, and polka mazOurka- This VIM
..minuet de la cour," which is most stately and
beautiful dance But the german holds its own
forever This famous dance, born at Brussels after
the battle OF Waterloo-this grand round quad
rflle, with It's multform figures, was invented to
bring all the ballroom into a state Of intimate
comm0tt0n, and 10 lead 1t well requires the genius
Of wellington or . Napoleon, In its way. 1t is
the perfection OF tact and tactics
In going into society an unknown young man,
who receives an invitation to ball, must seek an
Introduction to a young lady through her chape-
rome. In our crowded bathrooms, " here there are
oe1 three ladies 70 the
Indeed, q modern French author (nOt so modern,
after alp said, sarcastically: ain love the chase
tQ q ha HIM
ter" One might fear that it is so in dancing. 1t
is the male partner who Is sought However,
must ressgu ans Windna and ssd
chain as amusing, and not stop TO count these &C.
casionai tanges. Nothing can excuse young
should remember that ballroom introductions
mean that he Is intended TO dance with the young
lady, and that womanhood should always COM
mand respect; although he may be somewhat an
noyed, perhaps, by the persistent efforts OF some
ambitious wall Mowers that he should ''take her
out" whether he Will or no he must never forget
his good manners.
NO oFFENsE, YOU KNOW.
While 1t is considered very proper to ask for in
v1tat1onS for gentlemen to dance, 1t is not con-
sidered proper to ask for Invitations for ladies.
The hostess, however. has always the refuge Of
saying that her list is full No o1ense should be
taken II this request is refused. AT all public balls
there should be committee OF ladies to receive.
The elegance OF ball depends very much upon
the presence OF recognized hostess. Crash over
carpets has been abandoned In the modern ball
room, its fuZZ is deleterious to the breath
The pleasure OF the dance depends very much on
Quadrilles, the lanciers, and occasionally Viz
GINA reel are introduced to MAKE the modern b IL
more interesting, and TO enable people who cannot
bear the whirl OF the waltz To dance. The elderly
can dance quadrile without loss OF breath or
dignity. Indeed, the Americans are the only peo-
pie who relegate the dance TO the young alone In
Europe the gray, old head, the old mouStache,
leads the german frequently. GrandmoJherS dance
with their grandsons. Socrates learned to dance.
AZ n " hall
They cal IL u dance, anu one is invited by card
from 10 O'Clock, with the word dancing aided in
the corner. ball, with Europeans means a
great, important court testivlty. Here We apply
1t To rything.
The bali supper In America is very gorgeous
"Ieed" compared with similar entertainments In
Europe. Inc hot oysters, the terrapin, the bOned
turkey, the salmon, the game frateS, the salads
the ices, jeilles and hot bouillon, the champagne
and punch which Is thrown away at a New York
ball, would furnish forth balls in London and
ten In Rome. A young girl should not forget or
tice she is not apt do So but there are some VINO
are careless and hurt the feelings OF modest young
men. 10 hurt anyone's feelings unnecessarily Is
10 p rove oneself not a gentlewOlnan.
Young men, too, can perhaps receive hint as to
ballroom etiquette. They are not always as
polite as they should be- SIR Philip Sidney, II he
were TO step into Delmonicos some assembly night
might fear that there was some lady unattended
TO, who has had no Invitation dance no refresh.
nent offered to her, no carriage called. He could
certainly see absolutely no attention paid to The
mammals. Guests do not take leave or their hostess
at London ball. nor Is II necessary here. But
they should always ask TO be presented the host
This gentleman Is generally nard TO lind, and is
supposed TO be anxious to be let alone. However
he must be hunted up and bowed To.
their cnaperones after each dance. We are not so
particular TO this, but 1t Is not good Tor young
glri 10 s.ay away from her chaperone very long.
IL Is better taste, also, FOR girl not promenade
the rooms too much On the arm OF one cavalier nor
TO dance exclusively with min. The extreme late
ness oil our balls Is very much against them. They
begin at II and last until 4. That Is absurd In a
hIrd-worklng community like ours. The man
must presumably have something else to do beside
dancing, and he must be "dOwn town. at O'Clock
neX5 morning. How can he stay al 4 ball until
anu De 1reo1 Tor his work!
YoCNG MEN WHO CAN'T DANCE
Many young ladies find that their men partners
dancing does not realize their expectations How
Can they get rid OF him without hurting his feel
ings? young lady might say, 81 am afraid am
not dancIng your step. I1 you do not miad |
should like 10 sit down and talk awnilen The
young man might declare .that IL is MS fault'
(Which IL probably is), and then, next day, he
should go 10 dancing na5ter. The airy noth,nrs
which compose the conversation OF ballroom
need not soar above polite commonplace Some
one has said that people 90 to Ddl with rivJ-
lous Intent, namely, TO dance, ana that the verb
TO dance is usually corrugated with the verb 10
nirt;' thus, II dance anu 1iirt, you dance aud
firt, lie dances and nrts." However, IL is 10 be-
believed that the young men and maidens who 90
to balls go 10 dance. That Is the business or the
hour, ana II they do II well and enjoy dong it, and
are thoroughly satisfied with themselves and each
other anu the floor and the music, it is noDody's
business, except mamnla's, what they say 10 eacn
other.
The phraseolOgy or invitation is less formal than
II used " be. "ohaii WE | Ike turn" has Father
replaced tue old fashioned "Miy have the pleas
ure Of dancing with your "WOnt you spare me
dancer" II hope you nave lett lance for me?" as
this my dancer" &C. The young lady is apt TO be
quite Informal in her response. IL Is the girl of
tact anu courtesy combined which gives every man
the impression that she would dance with him IL
she could. The girl who seems TO De enjoying her.
self, who puts ner partner on good terms with him
sell and herself, such a girl has success in the
ballroom as she has every where else.
All excessive dancing Is gone out OF fashion.
What used 10 be called the "BOStOn Dip" the ex-
aygeration OF any dance, Is absurd. Anything
buresQue in the modern art OF ing Is Oblivios
Americans dance better than any people In the
world. They seem To have found the just medium
between exaggeration and stupid forlnality. They
dance gracefully and with spirit.
------>O~-
Formerly a Leader Of Society.
F. II. Carruth In Chicago Tribune.
81 beg your pardon" said a nervous and some
what eedily-dressed young man, "but can you do
anything TO assist me a little today"
mo, sir, cannot" promptly replied the business
man. II don't believe In encouraging beggars,
sir. You are able to work-what's the matter;
been burned out?"